Island Chatter

By Stephanie Heelan Cotsonas

Congratulations to islander Kate Petrie. Kate is well known in the community as a photographer and founder of the Jamestown Arts Center. She was recently selected as the recipient of the first IonaFest Award, which was created in the memory of Iona Dobbins, Rhode Island’s first lady of the arts, who died in July 2012.

The award is a way to help perpetuate Dobbins’ legacy by recognizing an individual who embodies her spirit: someone with universal love of the arts in Rhode Island and is a true advocate for all art forms.

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Don’t miss Skatefest 2013 next Friday. Be at the Lawn Avenue skate park from 4 to 9 p.m. with $5 to compete in skate, rap and dance contests. There will be tons of prizes, giveaways, music and fun.

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Don’t forget to look your best tomorrow – school picture day. I like the blue background.

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The women’s group at St. Mark is sponsoring a bus trip to New York City for the Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in December. The cost is $120 per person, which includes the bus, ticket and tip. All are welcome. Hurry up: reservations and payment are due Saturday. Call Trish Medeiros at 423-2317 for more information.

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Here is the latest Kettlebottom’s Cox Sport’s fishing report. It’s a great time of the year to get on the bay. Cooling water has baitfish moving. Inshore, the scup bite is hot. Black sea bass and fluke are deep but moving to shallower water. For tautog, look for structure. Stripers are off of Block Island and moving into the bay. False albacore and bonito are still spotty off the South Shore. Offshore, blue fin are in the Mud Hole. Further offshore is interesting, with everything from yellow fin and albacore, to wahoo and white marlin.

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Once again the annual Peter C. Clarke Memorial Golf Tournament held Sunday was a huge success.

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Come celebrate Jamestown Day 2013 on the last Saturday in September from 5 to 10 p.m. at Fort Getty. Admission is $5 and children under 6 are free. There will be games, prizes, miniature golf, bingo, s’mores, pizza, hotdogs, a bon fire and cakewalk fun.

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Does anyone want to know what cakewalk fun is?

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Tale from the docks: During a regular Tuesday at East Ferry a few weeks ago, a young man visiting from San Diego named Michael wandered into the dock office. He informed Fred Bartlett that he is a member of the Coast Guard and was admiring the Nantucket Lightship. He asked about getting a tour and decided to head down and take a closer look. He struck up a conversation with the crew and it turned out the lightship was hosting a fundraiser for cancer awareness that evening.

Michael let them know that one of his duties is to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” at Coast Guard events out west. That night he was invited aboard to start the fundraising event on the lightship with his rendition of the national anthem. Michael was thrilled, and Fred was pretty sure he got his tour. A nice Jamestown story right in our midst.

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Halloween costumes are in stores.

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Attention all singers: You are invited to join the Jamestown Community Chorus for the fall 2013 season. Registration is Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Baptist Church. Rehearsals follow registration and will continue on Monday evenings throughout the fall for the concert in December. There are no auditions and no choral singing experience is necessary. Call B.J. at 423-1574 to learn more.

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You know summer is winding down when you stop seeing sand in your fridge.